Chapter 298 Celeste's Disappointment
"Celeste." Unexpectedly, Alicia's calm voice rang out from behind her. She looked at Celeste calmly before speaking. "Senior Adrian is my fiancé. This is the truth."
Celeste was at a loss for words when Alicia said that. "Alicia... you don't have to be scared of them. I-I will talk with grandma, and we will find a way to cancel the engagement."
"Ahahaha!" Adrian cackled, palming his face. "Are you joking, Celeste? The engagement was decided and approved by the Head of the Raven House, Lord Salazar himself, and the future Head, Cyril. What would an outsider like your grandmother have to say?"
Celeste bit her lip at Adrian's words.
He wasn't wrong.
Cyril, Alicia's elder brother, had proposed the marriage between his sister and Adrian, his friend and ally. He easily convinced Salazar Raven, their grandfather, to approve it, and on Adrian's House side, they welcomed the union with the genius Alicia. Unfortunately, Alicia, her mother, or even her father, James Raven, had no say in the matter.
Nothing could truly break the engagement except convincing Cyril, who wouldn't go back on his word. The only one who could do something was Victor, their brother. Being from the Raven House and the new heir, he could easily dissolve the engagement, just as it happened in the Game.
She might suffer, but she would eventually be freed from Adrian's grasp. She just needed to be patient until her big brother saved her. A girl like her wouldn't break so easily because of Adrian, anyway.
"I-I'm sure we can do something..." Celeste trailed off, lowering her head.
She obviously wouldn't abandon this easily, but...
"It's fine," Alicia removed Celeste's hand from her arm.
"Alicia..." Celeste looked at Alicia with a powerless look, nearly guilty, unable to help her.
"See," Adrian grinned before walking away, his eyes scanning Alicia as he left. "See you soon, Alicia. We will have more fun in the future."
Well, that was quite the animated quarrel.
The silence seemed too awkward, so I spun on my heels.
"W-Why..."
Suddenly, Celeste let out weakly.
It might have seemed directed towards Alicia given the recent situation, but for some reason, I knew right away that Celeste was speaking to me.
I turned around to confirm, and indeed, her gaze was fixed on me.
What was that expression she was giving me?
Disappointment.
That was the fitting word to describe her current look.
Utter disappointment.
"Why didn't you help her?" she asked weakly.
Ah, I see.
She witnessed me not intervening as I walked past Adrian, who was harassing Alicia.
"I don't understand..." Celeste muttered, clenching her fists. "I thought you were someone brave. Back then, you tried to help me even though he was stronger than you... I thought you were someone courageous..."
"..."
"But now, a girl was harassed in front of you, and you didn't even say anything... and just walked... why?" She asked, her look confused and weak after witnessing the recent events.
"You are the Prophetess, Lady Celeste," I responded wryly. "Of course, I would intervene. You are important."
As soon as I said that, Alicia who was hearing until now left with the 'I don't care' look.
Well, I just chose to be honest.
I could have let her be handled by Victor or even be captured back then, but when I learned she was the Prophetess, there was no way I would let something happen to her. Additionally, I wanted her to feel indebted to me.
Celeste was left speechless at my words. "Y-You helped me back then because I am the Prophetess?" She sought confirmation, and my silence only affirmed her words.
I had wanted to befriend her, but it seemed that opportunity was completely lost now. The disappointment on her face was as clear as water. She wouldn't even consider me as her classmate anymore.
I could have lied, but honestly, to hell with that.
I was tired of playing a role.
I don't really need to befriend her anyway, if I think about it.
When the lives of millions of people are at stake, she won't have a choice but to cooperate.
Celeste smiled bitterly at my words. "I'm just a mere profit for you, like my mother was... but Alicia is a girl, your junior. H-How..." She bit her lip, attempting to hold back her anger. "How and why did you not intervene?"
I sighed, honestly tired of this conversation. "Adrian Dolphis is a Great Noble, Lady Celeste. Anyone else in my position, except Great Nobles like you, would have ignored them. It could have been anyone in my place."
"T-This is not a sufficient reason! You are still from the Olphean House! You probably had a mother, or maybe a sister, right? W-Why did you act so cowardly-"
"I don't know her," I cut her off.
"W-What?"
I glanced at Alicia's departing figure. "I don't know her. You can't compare her to my mother or sister, Lady Celeste."
Celeste's disappointed gaze transformed into a glare. "... if that's your answer, Amael," she said and turned around, walking away. "...I just wanted to thank you for the other day. Thanks."
This was the coldest thanks I had ever heard.
…
…
After parting ways with Celeste, I stealthily made my way to the girls' dormitory. No girl could refuse me, nor did they want to, honestly. As for the staff, I simply threatened and bribed them.
My goal was Selene's room. I had heard her asking Victor to come to her room under the pretext of homework, but I knew very well that it was about homework in another sense.
With Samara's help, I easily forced the door open and entered.
"What... a cold room..." I muttered, observing the black and red color theme that surrounded the room.
No time to waste.
I looked around the room, hoping to find her vial, but as expected, there was nothing. She probably hadn't entered her room yet.
With no other options, I opened her closet and slipped inside.
Once she enters, I'll knock her out and steal the vial.
"Huh?" I ignored the dresses but couldn't overlook the interior of the closet, which was filled with pictures.
Pictures of Victor...
From babyhood to his current age.
Where the hell did she even get those photos?
Some included other girls, like Celeste, but the faces of every girl around him were carefully and meticulously erased with a black pen.
This was slightly scary.
What a yandere...
Fortunately, though, I could fit inside and managed to sit until she arrived. Sighing, I thought about my earlier conversation with Celeste.
Coward.
She saw me exactly like that.
Because I could have intervened and done more, considering I wasn't as weak as she thought. Moreover, I had status similar to Connor and Christina. If she knew about my strength and status, it would have been a lot worse.
I willingly chose not to interfere because helping Alicia would mean antagonizing Adrian, and consequently, Cyril.
I wasn't ready for that.
My priority was to find the people who killed half of my family. The other families didn't interest me.
Call me a coward and hate me however you want for that.
"Do you hate what I did not do back then, Cleenah?" I asked out of nowhere.
[<I will never hate you, Amael.>]
"Again this, huh," I chuckled a bit. "But what do you truly think?"
[<I would say this isn't like you, Amael. I know that deep in your heart, you are a good-hearted person.>]
"You know, I'm afraid that Lucifer has indirectly influenced me, and I don't freaking know why and how."
[<Lucifer wouldn't have cared the slightest about ignoring a girl being harassed, but you do care about your previous behavior, Amael. You are different. Regardless of your actions, I understand you. You are just afraid of losing again, isn't it?>>]
"Right..."
One of the faces that keeps coming up is obviously Elona's face.
Each time, she appears in my dreams, and I dream about our happy childhood. Louisa as well.
My memories are entirely restored, so I remember everything from my childhood.
Knowing that I wouldn't see Louisa or Elona again really gnaws at my heart. Elona's face as she dies has become my daily nightmare.
The reason she died was because of my reckless actions. If I had been a little more prudent, she wouldn't have died.
If, again, because of my reckless actions, something happened to Christina or Mom, I'm afraid of completely losing myself even with Cleenah, Annabelle, and Samara beside me.
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